Cherry fruit weevil

The cherry fruit weevil (Rhynchites auratus) is a significant coleopteran pest belonging to the Attelabidae family. Known for its distinct golden-green metallic body and elongated rostrum, this insect is a primary threat to stone fruit production across temperate climates. Its ability to infest orchards rapidly makes it a priority for integrated pest management programs.

This pest targets a variety of stone fruits, primarily sweet and sour cherries, apricots, plums, and peaches. Both the adult stage and the larval stage cause direct economic losses. While adults feed on buds and young shoots, the primary damage is caused by females laying eggs inside young fruits, leading to direct destruction of the developing seed.

The biological cycle involves overwintering as larvae within the soil. As spring temperatures rise, pupation occurs, and adults emerge in early spring. They migrate to the tree canopy, where they feed on young tissues, mate, and begin the egg-laying process. The larvae feed inside the fruit, causing the infested fruit to wither, harden, or drop prematurely, thus reducing yield.

The severity of the damage is characterized by reduced fruit quality and quantity. Beyond the direct consumption of fruit tissue, the feeding punctures act as entry points for secondary pathogens, such as Monilinia (brown rot), which can destroy the remaining healthy crop. Heavily infested trees may lose a significant percentage of their potential harvest if early intervention is absent.

Effective management strategies for controlling the population include:

• Soil cultivation around the base of the trees to disturb pupation sites and expose larvae to predators.
• Rigorous removal and destruction of fallen fruit to prevent larvae from re-entering the soil.
• Targeted application of insecticides during the pre-blossom and post-bloom stages when adults are most active.
• Manual control techniques, such as shaking limbs early in the morning, which causes the weevils to fall onto drop cloths for easy collection and destruction.